Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce remains confident of retaining the services of Roque Santa Cruz.
Allardyce hoping to fend off interest in South American striker
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce remains confident of retaining the services of Roque Santa Cruz.
The Paraguay international has been consistently linked with a move away from Ewood Park in recent weeks, with the player himself doing little to douse those rumours.
The 27-year-old recently said he would be willing to join a 'better or an ambitious club' if one came calling in January.
In the wake of those reports Allardyce has sought to establish where his striker stands, and admits he is pleased by the response he received.
Timing
"We've had the discussion and I just said the timing I thought was very poor," said the new Rovers boss.
"He should have not done that interview. It was not certainly set up by this football club, which was disappointing.
"Obviously I felt it was slightly sinister, the timing of it, but we have resolved that and I have told him I don't want him to leave and that is probably the end of it."
Former Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who is now in charge at Manchester City, is said to be keen on taking Santa Cruz to Eastlands, but Allardyce insists he has no need to part with the player - whatever the price on offer.
"You can never be 100 per cent about anything in this game but I haven't come here to sell my best players," he stressed.
Committed
Santa Cruz has been criticised in some quarters for failing to scale the heights he reached last season - when he scored 23 goals.
However, Rovers midfielder David Dunn is backing his team-mate to silence those doubters once he rediscovers his match sharpness.
"Roque is such a good genuine lad. He has been playing with injuries which he shouldn't have been doing," said the midfielder.
"He wanted to help the cause and help us get out of the mess. He is one of those guys who is a top lad, always tries his best and is not a bad egg around the place.
"He is 100 per cent committed the cause. I had a chat with him last night about this and he will be fine with it."
Meanwhile, Rovers have parted company with former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler after the veteran front-man's short-term agreement at Ewood Park reached its conclusion.
